COMMON NAME- AMERICAN HOLLY
CLASS MAGNOLIOPSIDA
ORDER CELASTRALES
FAMILY AQUIFOLIACEAE
SUBFAMILY
TRIBE
GENUS ILEX
IDENTIFICATION
Zones 5,6,7,8,9
Size Height 15-30 feet; spread 10-20 feet.
Form Upright and conical with horizontal branches or open in poor growing conditions; medium density. Foliage - alternate, 2-4 inches long, 1-2 inches wide, stiff and leathery, not lustrous, margins usually spiny-toothed. Flower - spring; inconspicuous, male and female flowers on separate plants. Fruit - fall and winter; berrylike, 1/4 inch diameter; both male and female must be present for fruit.
Texture Medium to slightly coarse.
Color Foliage - dark green, light green beneath. Flower - white. Fruit - red. Bark - gray, smooth.
Culture Sun to part shade. Soil - good drainage; medium fertility. Moisture - medium to high. Pruning - balance and retain central leader. Pest problems - leaf miner. Growth Rate - slow.
Landscape Foliage sometimes disfigured by winter sun. Difficult to transplant from Notes wild. Best employed as specimen plant or in clumps as screen and border material. Fruit produced best in full sun. Allow lower limbs to branch to ground naturally. Interesting topiary. Will not tolerate direct salt spray.
Variety 'East Palatka' - small, light green leaves; adapted to moist, protected situations; dark red fruit.
This description comes from The Landscape Plants of the Southeast and Plants for American Landscapes; similar additional description can be found in Trees of the Southeastern United States.
Specimens of Ilex opaca are deposited at The University of Georgia Herbarium.
Live specimens can be found on campus and at Sam's Farm.
Ilex opaca. | ||
AREA |
STATUS |
REFERENCES |
North America: Continental United States; Canada |
Yes |
1 & 2 |
Eastern North America: United States east of Mississippi; Ontario and eastern Canada |
Yes |
1 & 2 |
Southeastern United States: AL AR DE DC FL GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV |
Yes |
1 & 2 |
Southern Appalachian States: AL GA KY MD NC SC TN VA WV |
Yes |
1 & 2 |
Coastal Plain | Widespread |
1 & 2 T.Thai |
Piedmont | Widespread |
1 & 2 |
Blue Ridge Mountains | Marginal |
t. Thai |
|
Probably |
T. Thai |
Ridge and Valley | Probably |
T.Thai |
Cumberland Plateau | Probably |
T. Thai |
Central Arch | Probably |
T. Thai |
Georgia | Yes |
1 & 2 |
Clarke County, Georgia | Yes |
UGA Herbarium Specimens |
Sams Farm | Common |
T.Thai, Pers. Ob. |
|
No |
T. Thai, Pers. Ob. |
|
? |
- |
|
Common |
T. Thai, Pers. Ob. |
|
Common |
T. Thai, Pers. Ob. |